In a purposeful stride toward strengthening the quality of higher education in Kenya, officials from the State Department for Higher Education and Research convened with academic and administrative stakeholders in a structured Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) session held today at one of Kenya’s leading Christian institutions of higher learning.

The event unfolded in two engaging sessions at the Katiba Auditorium. The first session brought together administrative staff for a focused group discussion on institutional operations, support services, policy implementation, and student financing systems. The second session shifted gears to interact with academic staff, delving into curriculum relevance, faculty development, integration of ICT in teaching, and university-industry collaborations.

The monitoring and evaluation exercise aims to generate data that will guide evidence-based policymaking for improved academic quality, infrastructural development, and institutional sustainability. Key areas of assessment included:

• Student enrollment and support systems
• Faculty qualifications and professional development
• ICT infrastructure and digital learning
• University-industry partnerships
• Operational efficiency in academic and administrative functions

The first session drew participation from administrative staff across departments such as Finance, ICT, Human Resources, Library, Registry, Student Affairs, and more. Facilitators led a rich discussion on institutional data management, student financing processes (including HELB), performance monitoring, policy implementation, and internal communication.

Participants shared challenges and proposed recommendations for optimizing administrative efficiency and service delivery. The Ministry officials appreciated the transparency and depth of the feedback, which they noted would significantly inform strategic planning at the national level.

The second session welcomed faculty members from various schools and departments. Discussions centered on curriculum relevance, integration of ICT in teaching, student engagement, research support, and the effectiveness of university-industry linkages. Faculty also spoke to the importance of ongoing professional development and their involvement in curriculum design and institutional planning.

The facilitators were particularly impressed by the university’s commitment to academic excellence, as well as the faculty’s proactive approach to addressing both pedagogical and infrastructural challenges.

Speaking during the sessions, Dr. Antony Somba, the Registrar (Academic & Research), emphasized Kabarak University’s continued alignment with national goals to improve higher education through accountability, innovation, and collaboration. He reaffirmed the university’s mission to provide holistic, quality education grounded in Biblical Christian values.

The insights collected from today's sessions will contribute to a comprehensive national report aimed at:

• Enhancing learning environments for students and faculty,

• Informing equitable policy development,

• Strengthening university-industry collaboration, and

• Improving the allocation of educational resources.

Kabarak University is honoured to be part of this transformative journey toward elevating the standards of higher education in Kenya, and we look forward to implementing actionable outcomes from this visit.